I start my notes this week reminding you to pray for two international situations, both of which have been receiving lots of news coverage. The natural disasters in Haiti have received a little less coverage. Please pray for the people of Haiti who have endured many trials and tribulations. The latest being a large earthquake that killed over 2,000 people. At the suggestion of our bishop we will take up a special collection for Catholic Relief Services which is now helping Haiti on the ground. That collection will be September 5. Also please pray for the situation in Afghanistan. On August 28 we celebrate our patron Saint Augustine. In his honor we have our annual Parish Picnic at St. Patrick's County Park on Sunday, August 29, 2021. We ...
This year the Assumption of Mary falls on Sunday. So we celebrate this great event and skip the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time. This Solemnity was celebrated in the church as early as the 5th Century and it celebrates the Dormitio of Mary. At Mary's passing the tradition of the Church teaches that she was immediately assumed into heaven, body and soul. She is there with her Son and intercedes for us. Jesus, as the Son of God, ascended into heaven. Mary, as his mother, was taken up to heaven. Our readings today all point to Mary. In our first reading from the Book of Revelations, St. John has this vision of Mary giving birth to Jesus. She is ...
Dear Parishioners, Our Sunday readings continue the theme of the Eucharist. I never thought that I'd see so many articles in the news about the Eucharist, but we are living in a different time. Several parishioners have told me that they are bothered by what they have read. All I can say is the press is the press and they make their living reporting sensational things. In my opinion the Eucharist is sensational but usually not for the same reasons as the press. To have the Body and Blood of Christ in our tabernacle as the real presence of God is sensational. It is even more sensational that Jesus gives us himself as food for our journey in life. Do I hear you saying "Amen"? ....